Rings for me, but I've never been more than a casual admirer.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Radiator for me. The only ones I haven't got are Phantom Power and Hey Venus, I love all the others to various degrees.
Huw Bunford shops in my local Tesco!
― nate woolls, Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:08 (fifteen years ago) link
I think I'd have to listen to them all again, and I also think it's too soon to vote for the new one as I always over-rate their albums at first. I know there was a poll on it recently, but I think Songbook could've been included here as well, if we're having Out Spaced.
Has anyone else even come close to being this prolific AND this damn good? Also, the first 5 (not including Out Spaced) came out 1996-2001, so it's perhaps fair to let them back off a bit after that.
Might have to vote Fuzzy Logic, just because it's where I started, and it's probably the one still I play the most. We'll see.
― chord simple (j.o.n.a), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:21 (fifteen years ago) link
Fun fact: I once acted as liaison for SFA to re-cop on their weed stash (it is their fuel, they smoke gargantuan amounts) after they had to ditch what they had before crossing the border from Canada into Michigan. This bought me passage on their bus for pre-show rituals, which centered around playing rap cassettes on a Radio Raheem-size ghetto blaster they'd purchased in NYC. Good times, good times..
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:26 (fifteen years ago) link
xpost: Outspaced, being a compilation of non-album material, warrants inclusion IMO. But Songbook is basically a greatest-hits situation which is, you know, different.
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, fair enough. If Ice Hockey Hair was on Out Spaced though, it'd probably get my vote. (For some reason I thought there were some b-sides on Songbook, not really counting Blerwytirhwng? as a b-side).
― chord simple (j.o.n.a), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:39 (fifteen years ago) link
Also not compiled: a few of the tracks from Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (In Space)
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:46 (fifteen years ago) link
I think this poll will see Guerilla, Radiator, and Rings get plenty of votes each, and the others all trail, with maybe Mwyng doing better than the recent LPs; purely because the two camps of fans, i.e. like everything up to Mwyng but think the rest is pants, and think they're remarkably consistent across career, both prefer G, R, and RATW. If that makes sense.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:49 (fifteen years ago) link
I've really not phrased that very well.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:50 (fifteen years ago) link
"Radiator".
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:51 (fifteen years ago) link
That is, even if you really like Hey Venus!, say, as opposed to thinking it's complete shit, you're still almost certain to like Guerilla more, and vote for that. It's everyone's-third-favourite-album syndrome, whereby the stuff that a handful of people really like but most think is shit gets more votes than the stuff everyone agrees is pretty good but not the best.
So, basically, the first-past-the-post system of politics.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:53 (fifteen years ago) link
I wouldn't be surprised if they end up in the same order as the Pitchfork ratings place them:
GuerrillaRings Around The WorldPhantom PowerRadiatorLove KraftFuzzy LogicOut SpacedMwngHey Venus
― nate woolls, Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:54 (fifteen years ago) link
I would, that looks totally anti what's been said so far.
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:56 (fifteen years ago) link
I like Guerilla, but to me it becomes a bit too eclectic to be a contender here. Besides "Radiator", I prefer "Phantom Power" (very underrated!) and "Rings Around The World". They may have lost it slightly lately, but not until after those two albums.
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:56 (fifteen years ago) link
Nah.
GuerillaRadiatorRings Around The WorldMwyngFuzzy LogicOut SpacedDark Days/Light YearsPhantom PowerHey VenusLove Kraft
is my bet.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:57 (fifteen years ago) link
"It's quite a discography, isn't it? 10 albums since 1996. Has anyone else even come close to being this prolific AND this damn good?
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, March 26, 2009 9:53 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark"
um, yes. yes, they have.
― rio (r1o natsume), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:01 (fifteen years ago) link
You're referring to Ryan Adams, correct?
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:02 (fifteen years ago) link
I was thinking GBV.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Radiator and RATW fightin' it out for me
― some dude's gizmo (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:04 (fifteen years ago) link
You know what, I've never listened to a SFA album in my life before, which is strange because I've been aware of them from the start and equally aware that they epitomise everything I like about music. Is it too late to start?
― the next grozart, Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:04 (fifteen years ago) link
If Ice Hockey Hair was on Out Spaced though, it'd probably get my vote.
Swear blind my copy (which is a promo) has this song on it - can't check right now tho
― some dude's gizmo (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:05 (fifteen years ago) link
'Fuzzy Logic' is still the best.
― zeus, Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:11 (fifteen years ago) link
I was going to as well. Apparently not. xpost
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:11 (fifteen years ago) link
Smokin' is on Out Spaced, mind. The non-compiled Ankst stuff isn't that great, except for Organ yn dy geg.
― chord simple (j.o.n.a), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:16 (fifteen years ago) link
won't vote cus i haven't heard a lot of thembut i have heard Radiator, Fuzzy Logic, Rings, and Mwngand of those it's Ring not even anywhere close to a competition Rings Around The World just blows those others 10000000 miles away
― turtles all the way down (Face of Wolf), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:23 (fifteen years ago) link
You might as well vote for that, then, b/c none of the other contenders which you've not heard would be likely to change your opinion.
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:37 (fifteen years ago) link
I managed to get either promos or cheap off the Quayside market, all the DVD editions of the albums that had them.
Which was nice.
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:42 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm very drunk and therefore may be exaggerating but i do really lvoe Rings
― turtles all the way down (Face of Wolf), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Radiator for me, then Fuzzy Logic, then Guerilla.
― zero learnt from nero (Neil S), Thursday, 26 March 2009 11:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Am at work so must be brief, but
RATWMwngRadiatorDD/LYLK
is my top 5
RATW being (easily) one of the best 5 records of this decade
And in answer to Nick's original conjecture, no, I can't think of such consistency AND profuseness displayed elsewhere. Blur almost came close. Sort of.
― Stop relegating Hull you miserable gits! (country matters), Thursday, 26 March 2009 13:05 (fifteen years ago) link
In the same period, Blur have done... Blur, 13, and that Banksy one. Damon's other work makes him pretty prolific...
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 13:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, shocked that you prefer LK to Guerilla.
Not in the same period. Blur pretty much owned the 90's. I was looking to transfer that period of SFA success anywhere else...I'm stumped!
Six.By Seven maybe? :D
I'm probably wrong about LK. I may change my mind. "Zoom" alone has promoted it above G and PP
actually PP is my official 5th choice, sorry 4 the challops
― Stop relegating Hull you miserable gits! (country matters), Thursday, 26 March 2009 13:28 (fifteen years ago) link
I said to Em earlier that I was having "an odd relationship with SFA" right now, that they were like a person I've been vague friends with for years but never been best friends with, and now I suddenly realise that everyone else has moved away and got boring IT jobs and doesn't care about music anymore, and actually SFA and me have had loads in common all along but just kind of did our own things.
I'm flabbergasted that grozart's never listened to an SFA album; I just kind of assumed that they were your favourite band.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 13:30 (fifteen years ago) link
"the brown-haired girl next-door who was the right one for you all along" is pretty much a description of SFA someone else busted out on ILX once...he's OTM
anyway, enuff posting at work, i have customers innit
― Stop relegating Hull you miserable gits! (country matters), Thursday, 26 March 2009 13:39 (fifteen years ago) link
Has anyone else even come close to being this prolific AND this damn good?zeppelin
― kamerad, Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Has anyone else even come close to being this prolific AND this damn good?
The Beatles! Recording career of 7 1/2 years!
― nate woolls, Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Very few of these records are uninteresting and some are more consistent than others. But Rings is the place where their two defining qualities—their eclecticism and tunefulness—come together best.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:40 (fifteen years ago) link
voted phantom power partly so it'll get a vote and partly because I think it might actually be my favorite. anyway they don't have a bad album imo.
― iatee, Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:48 (fifteen years ago) link
LoveKraft isn't getting a vote, right?
― Mark G, Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:59 (fifteen years ago) link
Love Kraft gets a bad rap unnecessarily, prob bc it has a lot of long, slower orchestral numbers. But I think it's quite good.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 March 2009 15:18 (fifteen years ago) link
I should qualify that I meant during the same time period; i.e. since 1996.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 15:30 (fifteen years ago) link
Its about time for another SFA love-in, isn't it? I think I'm going to listen to these all today.
― legendary North American forest ape (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 26 March 2009 15:35 (fifteen years ago) link
love kraft is great, I like pretty much every song on it
― iatee, Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:35 (fifteen years ago) link
which I couldn't say about radiator or guerrilla
(it just doesn't have their peaks)
― iatee, Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Just burning this for the car:
The Man Don't Give A Fuck 4:50 Super Furry Animals Out SpacedDo Or Die 1:59 Super Furry Animals GuerrillaGolden Retriever 2:28 Super Furry Animals Phantom PowerThe International Language Of Screaming 2:14 Super Furry Animals RadiatorThe Piccolo Snare 6:09 Super Furry Animals Phantom PowerThe Very Best Of Neil Diamond 4:14 Super Furry Animals Dark Days/Light YearsPlay It Cool 3:15 Super Furry Animals RadiatorValet Parking 4:35 Super Furry Animals Phantom Power(Drawing) Rings Around The World 3:30 Super Furry Animals Rings Around The WorldNeo Consumer 2:04 Super Furry Animals Hey Venus!The Teacher 2:31 Super Furry Animals GuerrillaJuxtapozed With U 3:09 Super Furry Animals Rings Around The WorldInaugural Trams 5:20 Super Furry Animals Dark Days/Light YearsNorthern Lites 3:30 Super Furry Animals GuerrillaThe Placid Casual 2:49 Super Furry Animals RadiatorBaby Ate My Eightball 3:35 Super Furry Animals Hey Venus!Hermann Loves Pauline 4:44 Super Furry Animals RadiatorSmokin' 5:03 Super Furry Animals Out SpacedNight Vision 4:41 Super Furry Animals GuerrillaDemons 5:12 Super Furry Animals Radiator
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:37 (fifteen years ago) link
And now I realise that without Ice Hockey Hair, Mwyng, or Fuzzy Logic on my work computer it will forever be incomplete. Must bring and rip them tomorrow.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 16:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Hey Mouthy, did you receive the SS links for my additions to your rooms/doors comp a few days ago? I guess there's been some issues with webmail..
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Thursday, 26 March 2009 17:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Nope, 'fraid not - did you try sickmouthy at gmail dot com?
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 26 March 2009 17:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Having gorged myself on all the albums and pretty much all the b-sides for the last fortnight, I feel like I still need more.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 29 March 2009 17:42 (fifteen years ago) link
yah if you like what you've heard, you should hear 'em all (with perhaps the controversial exceptions of fuzzy logic and hey venus)
ESPECIALLY "Mwng", that album rules so so hard
― Stop relegating Hull you miserable gits! (country matters), Sunday, 29 March 2009 17:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Well it certainly wins for my favorite all Welsh language album.
― Too Into Dancing to Argue (ENBB), Sunday, 29 March 2009 17:49 (fifteen years ago) link
Greatest working band in the world as far as I'm concerned. Their bad tracks are rarely bad. I think people tend to get a bit hyperbolic about how "overrated" some of their albums are--Rings in particular. I love everything they've done. And both of Gruff's solo albums are fantastic. What's wrong with them?
― teflon monkey, Sunday, 29 March 2009 18:51 (fifteen years ago) link
And Love Kraft is an album that gets better with age. Very misunderstood IMO. I think part of the pleasure in listening to the band is seeing them develop through their career. How did they go from "God! Show me Magic" to "Walk You Home" to "White Socks/Flip Fops"
what is your order for their albums teflon monkey?
― Bee OK, Sunday, 29 March 2009 19:29 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm still tussling over LK vs PP for my 5th-favourite
― Stop relegating Hull you miserable gits! (country matters), Sunday, 29 March 2009 19:30 (fifteen years ago) link
I have to say i'm starting to look forward to my (chronological) reassesment of Love Kraft. And the last one. Picking a favourite won't get any easier mind. Disappointed in the growing Fuzzy Logic lack of love on here though.
― chord simple (j.o.n.a), Sunday, 29 March 2009 20:43 (fifteen years ago) link
"Disappointed in the growing Fuzzy Logic lack of love on here though."
Me too. There are perhaps one or two slightly weaker tracks in the second half of the album, but it's pure genius, especially the first 7 songs = nearly all of them 10/10.
― zeus, Sunday, 29 March 2009 20:50 (fifteen years ago) link
I KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT MY ORDERING SYSTEM SOGuerrillaRadiatorPhantom PowerFuzzy LogicDark Days/Light Years (and rising, might be one of my fave raves so far)MwngOut SpacedRings Around The WorldLove KraftHey Venus
― Haikunym Mark II (Dimension 5ive), Sunday, 29 March 2009 21:58 (fifteen years ago) link
GuerrillaMwngFuzzy LogicRings Around the WorldOutspaceLove KraftHey VenusRadiator
I really like the new one a lot. And I think that I enjoy Radiator the least of their albums. The production gets tiring on my ears.
― teflon monkey, Tuesday, 31 March 2009 12:35 (fifteen years ago) link
OutspacedLove KraftPhantom Power
Just obtained DD/LY today: Holy Shit, this is GOOD.
― SORCEROUSES..roll on stage! (Pillbox), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 00:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes to ^^^^ this! I haven't heard SFA's whole discography yet, but if there are a lot of SFA albums better than DD/LY front-to-back then this group is beyond amazing. The Very Best of Neil Diamond and Trams are on nonstop repeat for me these days.
― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 22 April 2009 00:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Really, really trying to hold out for the U.S. physical release (I'm sort of OCD about buying physical copies of favorite bands when I already have the rest of their discography), but I just saw it isn't due until the end of May now!
― homage is parody gone sour (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 00:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Really, really wish "Mt." didn't exist...still, a very good record, despite the 2nd track completely destroying all the gloriously-attained momentum of "Crazy Naked Girls". The way that song takes 5 minutes of weirdly-lumbering stop-start chanting and guitar heroics to find its pulsating groove is just magnificent. But before we can get too much of a good thing...we plunge straight into the clunker. Ugh.
Fortunately, they spend the rest of the album making up for it. Only really "Cardiff In The Sun" numbers amongst their VERY best songs, but there's remarkable consistency at play here.
― Young Chizzy (country matters), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 01:52 (fifteen years ago) link
I like Mt. better than Crazy Naked Girls. Better groove, a narcotic-vibe, and less abrasive. But this part -- "there's remarkable consistency at play here" -- I'll happily cosign.
― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 22 April 2009 02:23 (fifteen years ago) link
guess i'm a sucker for welsh. "lliwiau llachar" is my favorite on the new one, and mwng is still my favorite album of theirs. can't say why for sure except maybe cuz gruff's vocals sound even more to me like robert wyatt's when he's not singing in english, and i'm a sucker for robert wyatt too
― kamerad, Wednesday, 22 April 2009 03:49 (fifteen years ago) link
everything since 2001 or thereabouts is largely forgettable. RONG.
― the next grozart Not at all. Jump on in, the water's weird.
― staggerlee, Wednesday, 22 April 2009 05:09 (fifteen years ago) link
the worst SFA has ever done stil >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that Gruff Rhys solo album. Dunno what was wrong with him then, but the album lacks everything that is great about SFA, even though you can hear it is the same guy.
Geir, have you heard the first (all-Welsh) Gruff Rhys album (Yr Atal Genhedlaeth)? Because it's a fucking pop monster. It's the opposite of the big, lush SFA sound but to my ears there's hardly a duff moment on it. Helps that if any of the lyrics suck, I have no way of knowing. No habla Cwmraeg. Candylion, I'll agree, was a bit limp, "Skylon" excepted.
― staggerlee, Wednesday, 22 April 2009 05:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Louis, your knee-jerk hatred of pop upsets me. Mt is great!
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 07:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Still can't decide on what to vote in the poll. Listened to LoveKraft again the other day and was surprised how much I enjoyed it - if it wasn't for Psyclone and Back on a Roll I'd really love it. Haven't tried Hey Venus again yet.
After getting DD/LY on cd I was surprised at how long it is! It really doesn't feel like an hour, I guess because the beginning and end are kind of drawn-out a bit, and there's 4 relatively long songs, and Where Do You Want To Go?/Lliwiau Llachar takes longer than you think. The only disappointing thing on this album is the way Helium Hearts fades out, like they've created this beautiful song and don't quite know what to do with it.
― new drone spider (j.o.n.a), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 08:35 (fifteen years ago) link
I hope these guys never break up. each new album = comfort music.
― iatee, Wednesday, 22 April 2009 08:43 (fifteen years ago) link
New album is great, and if any of you are interested in their acid techno side I would recommend Acid Casuals, the side project of Cian from the band.
― zero learnt from nero (Neil S), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 09:30 (fifteen years ago) link
wtf "kneejerk hatred of pop", if I had that then would I like that slew of tracks towards the end? :-P
― Young Chizzy (country matters), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 12:24 (fifteen years ago) link
You hate the whole of Hello venus! though!
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 13:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Rings Around The WorldGuerrillaPhantom PowerDark Days/Light YearsMwngHey VenusLove KraftRadiatorOut SpacedFuzzy Logic
"Radiator" would be much higher on the list were it not for its atrocious sound, which hurts my ears after awhile. I tracked down the vinyl, thinking that it might be a mastering issue - nope. It needs a full remixing job, methinks. A "Radiator" with the sonic quality of, say, "Hey Venus" would be revelatory.
― Dave Depper (Davey D), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 19:33 (fifteen years ago) link
For the record, I have mellowed greatly to Hey Venus on hearing it again more recently, although it's not something I'll ever return to much, or care deeply for.
― Young Chizzy (country matters), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 19:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Radiator does have a really odd, brash sound. I don't dislike it, but it's nowhere near as easy on the ear as DD/LY or Hey Venus! or PP. I guess they were still very much finding their feet.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 21:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Even Guerilla sounds ten times better. Hermann Loves Pauline is easily one of my top 5 Furries jams, but the opening five seconds make headphone listening nigh on impossible.
― Dave Depper (Davey D), Wednesday, 22 April 2009 21:24 (fifteen years ago) link
Went through the whole discography, and now:
Fuzzy LogicGuerrillaRadiatorOutspacedMwngRings Around The WorldDark Days/Light YearsHey Venus!Love KraftPhantom Power
― zeus, Wednesday, 22 April 2009 21:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Radiator is the best and probably always will be.
otm
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 22 April 2009 21:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 29 April 2009 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Ice Hockey Hair EPGuerrillaRadiatorDark Days/Light YearsRings Around The WorldPhantom PowerFuzzy LogicOut SpacedMwngLove KraftHey Venus
― tevin "ratt" campbell (Pillbox), Thursday, 30 April 2009 03:49 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 30 April 2009 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Man, how did Mwng only get 2 votes??
― groovypanda, Friday, 1 May 2009 07:53 (fifteen years ago) link
"Everyone's second favourite syndrome", isn't it?
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 1 May 2009 08:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Surprised at the love for Fuzzy Logic. It's not bad, but it just seems so... amateurish compared to everything else they've done, in terms of consistency.
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 1 May 2009 08:30 (fifteen years ago) link
I panic voted for Fuzzy Logic, as I thought it would be under-represented, and I really couldn't choose between any of the first six - I think a lot of it just comes down to what was going on when the album came out, and how I feel about that now. Incidentally, just noticed that apart from the new one and the compilations, all their albums have been released between May and August.
― new drone spider (j.o.n.a), Friday, 1 May 2009 09:09 (fifteen years ago) link
They're a summer band.
Wasn't the new one released just after clocks went forward?
― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 1 May 2009 09:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Ya and it also brought a heatwave with it
― sorry for british (country matters), Friday, 1 May 2009 11:55 (fifteen years ago) link
The correct answer, of course, was Love Kraft
― PaulTMA, Monday, 6 September 2010 02:42 (fourteen years ago) link
they are so old and dull now. although i got in trouble for saying that before but i can't imagine them doing anything exciting ever again. maybe that's the point of being old. you just make middle of the road competent things that will get you features in mojo.
― keythhtyek, Monday, 6 September 2010 03:19 (fourteen years ago) link
They're older now...
― Mark G, Friday, 27 February 2015 09:26 (nine years ago) link
and by the looks of it, not releasing a new record either.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Friday, 27 February 2015 09:31 (nine years ago) link